Line 6 HD modeling

[Tig***]

I'm getting one soon...

Since you already know how to make an M9 work, your learning curve will be smaller.

[Eric***]

I still have too much to learn to give it a proper review. I've been creating patches in the blank memory sections to get a taste of each amp model and most of the effects. While some of the factory patches are silly and useless, there are also some incredible configurations that let you know how capable this thing really is. I wish I had more time to dig deeper, but so far, I'm enjoying it immensely.

Cool. Keep us in the loop as you figure it out, please!

[Tig***]

From a post over at the chickin' pickin' guitar forum that may shed some light on the differences between the 3 models:

I bought the 300, took it back and got the 500. HUGE difference -- not in tone, not in the number of effects, but in programmability. The 300 and 400 seem to be designed for beginners who want to set and forget.

The 500 is for pros who get frustrated with artificial limitations. I think it's interesting that both Line 6 and the sites that are reviewing this product are really soft-pedalling the difference between the models because I think it is enormous. I couldn't do jack squat with the effects in the 300, I can get pretty much any sound I want out of the 500.

The amp modeling is the same in all three units, the biggest difference for me is that the 500 has both the sound and flexibility of the M13 while the other two have the sounds, but not nearly enough programmability to satisfy a pro player. For the extra money ($499 vs. $329 and $399) I'll take the 500 every day of the week.

[markb]

I've discovering that you can download the editing software and run it without the POD connected. It gives a very good idea of what the device is capable of.

[Eric***]

I've discovering that you can download the editing software and run it without the POD connected. It gives a very good idea of what the device is capable of.

Run it as a VST plugin for any audio interface or what? I might look into that. I'm more curious than anything.

[markb]

No, Eric, just the software editor. It allows you to see how you can configure the fx chains and what routing options you have. The HD300 is quite limited with only one fx block for all compressors and drives so if you like to kick your distortion with a comp for a smooth solo tone, you're out of luck.

A few minutes playing with the possibilities told me that, should I buy one of these it will be the HD500.

[Jimi75]

I was hoping for a new generation of Line6 Sound. At least I was one of the first persons over here to buy the Felxtone 1 and I still think Line6 did some great pioneer work in the land of modeling. The cleaner amp models like the Blackface etc sound really dynamic and great, but since the 2nd generation of the Felxtone Line6 doesn't manage to create a decent metal sound modeling. Some of the Rectifier models sound like a trucker's horn, the JCM800 is a horrific example of bad modeling according to the sound samples of the POD500HD. You might remember I sold my Flextone III due to the fact that the amph wasn't cutting through the band sound. I have the fear that it might be the same with the HD modeling. As I said, good cleans and some good crunch on the JTM45, but the Metal section purely s**** as always with Line6. I will check the 500 physically at the end of this month, but I can already smell what it will sound like...have been too experienced with Line6 over the past 15 years.
Only my 2cents.

[Eric***]

I was hoping for a new generation of Line6 Sound. At least I was one of the first persons over here to buy the Felxtone 1 and I still think Line6 did some great pioneer work in the land of modeling. The cleaner amp models like the Blackface etc sound really dynamic and great, but since the 2nd generation of the Felxtone Line6 doesn't manage to create a decent metal sound modeling. Some of the Rectifier models sound like a trucker's horn, the JCM800 is a horrific example of bad modeling according to the sound samples of the POD500HD. You might remember I sold my Flextone III due to the fact that the amph wasn't cutting through the band sound. I have the fear that it might be the same with the HD modeling. As I said, good cleans and some good crunch on the JTM45, but the Metal section purely s**** as always with Line6. I will check the 500 physically at the end of this month, but I can already smell what it will sound like...have been too experienced with Line6 over the past 15 years.
Only my 2cents.

That makes sense -- I've heard complaints in the past about Line 6 modeling in terms of the driven sounds and at high (read: band) volumes.

Since you have first-hand experience with those issues, I'll be interested to hear your take on the HD generation when you try it.

[deeaa*]

I think the problem with modelers is the models try to be too good, i.e. they try to sound as guitars do on records not like they sound in real life.

If the drummer plays digital drums and everybody hooks to a nice sounding PA modelers work really well...but when this polished, studio-like sound with all the studio FX like compressors already mixed in tries to compete with raw, hard hitting real drums and screaming amps, no wonder it gets washed out in the mix quite easily.

Anybody who's ever played a Plexi live for instance knows full well it sounds nothing like the line 6 plexi does...it sounds like the said plexi recorded and mixed and EQ'd, which is fine, or even great in many ways and uses, but, not the best choice for rock band necessarily.

We've gotten our guitarist's line 6 to cut thru pretty well now with a speaker change and constanly toning down the FX on the amp...but then it also becomes sadly apparent that once you strip off the FX on these amps, the remaining 'basic' sound isn't necessarily very convincing or good any more.

Maybe the HD line will be better in that. What I'd like to see on this type amps, there should be a switch 'live/studio' which would work in such a way that if you dial in a great sound in 'studio' mode for recording, it would then automatically reduce all FX ratios drastically and apply a different, more midrangey EQ curve to amp speakers when you hit 'live' yet still keep feeding the 'studio' settings to the D/I out.

That would probably work very well for many situations.

[Tig***]

I've been downloading user created patches at Line 6's Custom Tone section. Some patches are questionable or over-volumed, but some are incredible, being much better then the factory presets. Currently for the HD500, there are over 340 patches uploaded, but only 30 for the HD400 and 60 for the HD300! This indicates sales perhaps?

If anyone gets a 500, let me know and I'll point you to some good ones.

[Tig***]

You nailed is pretty close, Jimi. The HD's JTM-45 amp model sounds great, but the JCM-800 is questionable unless the gain is set fairly low.